REDLANDS >> Last season, the Arrowhead Christian Academy girls soccer team had to survive battle after battle to win the Ambassador League title.

Those tough victories continue to pay off for the Eagles, who took over sole possession first place in league following Tuesday’s 9-0 win over Woodcrest Christian.

“I knew from last season, watching the girls play, that this year was going to be our year again,” ACA coach Norma Mendez said. “If the girls do the right stuff, then we should be league champions again.”

ACA (9-2-3, 7-1-1) has won seven of its last eight games, the one blemish being a 3-3 tie with Linfield Christian.

Tuesday’s win was ACA’s third straight.

“It’s a real tight league,” Mendez said. “Right now I am happy to be first place. But I know we have some important games to play. Every game is important.”

A loss to Ontario Christian in this season’s league opener caught ACA off guard.

“We knew we didn’t play to our ability,” ACA’s Ashly Hilfer said. “We have definitely worked harder. It just opened things up for us. We found out it’s not going to be easy and that we have to work hard.”

On Friday, ACA avenged that loss with a 1-0 win over Ontario Christian.

“Everything bad that could happen happened in that game,” Mendez said. “We played great in the preseason and beat some good teams. That was our league opener and I just think we were a little nervous, and they caught us in some mad moments.”

Woodcrest Christian was no match for ACA — veterans like Riley Phillips and Ashly Hilfer were dominant.

Hilfer scored three of ACA’s first four goals and finished with four. Phillips scored the opening goal and finished with two. Brittni Coffeen scored twice and Reagan Phillips scored once.

ACA showed little mercy.

“This year it isn’t as tough to get pumped up for these games,” Phillips said. “For the last few years we tried to win the league, and last year we did. Now we understand how important it is to win every game.”

Phillips, off to Cal Lutheran to play soccer in the fall, said last season has worked in ACA’s favor this year.

“It has definitely paid off,” Phillips said. “We haven’t won every game but we still feel the pressure.”

Phillips’ opening goal was followed by four straight Hilfer goals. ACA led 4-0 at halftime and had a 5-0 lead early in the second half.

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“I think we have motivation for every game we play,” Hilfer said. “We want to be in first place. Every game we know we have to take seriously.”